Article handling apparatus



Oct. 26, 1954 Q Ew v 2,692,693

ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS I Filed April 13, 1950 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

(kg/v65 Fwy/54 Oct. 26, 1954 F. NEWBURG 2,692,693

ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April 15, 1950 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I NVEN TOR. (karles Ffiwzz y Oct. 26, 1954 c. F. NEWBURG ARTICLE ,HANDLINGAPPARATUS 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 13, 1950 IN VEN TOR. CharlesF/Veu any Oct. 26, 1954 c. F. NEWBURG ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS 1OSheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 13, 1950 I N V EN TOR. Charles B Y l0Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 13, 1950 Oct. 26, 1954 c. F. NEWBURG2,692,693

ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April 15, 1950 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIE-11 ZJZ '7" k &

1N VEN TOR (fiarles F/X 0/5019 -59" m ana w Oct. 26, 1954 c. F. NEWBURGARTICLE-HANDLING APPARATUS l0 Sheeis-Sheet 7 Filed April 15, 1950 H:mzh.

Oct. 26, 1954 c. NEWBURG 2,692,693

ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April 15, 1950 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIE-13 INVENTOR. (001 195 F/I ea/bee BY Oct. 26, 1954 c, F. NEWBURG ARTICLEHANDLING APPARATUS 10 Sheetls-Sheet 9 Filed April 13, 1950 INVENTOR.C/zarles F/Kewag FIE- 15 Mae Qua M mrzzew Patented Oct. 26, 1954 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to transfer devices and, more particularly, totransfer devices of the type especialy well adapted to move work piecesfrom one machine to another, or from one work station to another, intimed sequence with the operation of the machine, or machines,performing operation on the work pieces.

In the commercial production of many articles various forming, stamping,punching, grinding, polishing, and other operations are often requiredto be performed, and such operations are often performed in sequence ina single machine, or in a battery of different machines with the workpieces moved from station to station for the various operations. It is aprimary object of my invention to enable such work pieces to betransferred into and out of such work stations, and the like, in a noveland expeditious manner.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel transfer devicewhich is so constituted and arranged that it affords an auxiliary unitwhich may be used with different types of machines for the purpose oftransferring work pieces into and out of work stations in the machine inconjunction with which it is used, and which, if so desired, may be usedto control the operation of the associated machine.

Many of the commercial production operations performed on work pieces atthe present time are performed by machines wherein the work pieces arefed into the machine and removed from the machine by hand withconsiderable danger to the operator of the machine who must manuallyfeed the work pieces into and out of the machine. For example, in theoperation of punch presses, and the like, it is common procedure for theoperator of the punch press to manually feed blanks or work pieces intothe machine and, after the completion of the punching operation thereon,to remove the work piece from the machine. As is evidenced by the constantly occurring mishaps wherein fingers, hands, and the like, ofoperators are smashed, mangled, or out off, such manual feeding of punchpresses, and like machines, is, to say the least, inherently dangerous.

Another object of my invention is to eliminate the necessity for themanual feeding of, and removal of, work pieces into and out of variousmachines such as, for example, punch presses,

and the like, by enabling such work pieces to be fed into and out ofoperative position in the machines in a novel and expeditious manner.

Various types of transfer devices have heretofore been known in the art,but such transfer devices have had several inherent disadvantages suchas, for example, being large and cumbersome; being complicated inconstruction and operation; being expensive to manufacture; being suitedonly for operation with, or as a part of, a particular machine; beingunreliable and ineificient in operation, and the like. A furtherimportant object of my invention is to overcome these, and otherdisadvantages of transfer devices heretofore known in the art and toafford a novel, compact transfer device, which may be economicallymanufactured commercially, may be used as a transfer device inconjunction with various machines, and types of machines, and which isreliable and eflicient in operation.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a novel transfer deviceof the aforementioned type wherein, during an operation of the device,gripping members for holding work pieces and the like during thetransfer of the work pieces reciprocate in a novel and expeditiousmanner between work stations, to and from which work pieces aretransferred.

A further object is to provide a novel transfer device of theaforementioned type operable in a novel manner to feed work pieces fromone work station to a second work station and simultaneously feed workpieces from the aforementioned second work station to a third workstation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a unitary transfer deviceof the aforementioned type which comprises a complete unit which may bereadily assembled in operative position relative to the machines orother devices with which it is to be used, and which, when so assembled,affords an efficient, practical device for transferring work pieces intoand out of operative position relative to the aforementioned othermachines or devices.

Yet another object is to provide a novel transfer device of theaforementioned type wherein the movement and operation of the variouworking parts thereof are effected, and may be controlled, in a noveland expeditious manner.

A further object is to provide a novel transfer device of theaforementioned type wherein the various parts thereof may be readilyadjusted in a novel and expeditious manner.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferredembodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and whatI now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applyingthese principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the sameor equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be madeas desired by those skilled in the art without departing from thepresent invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a transferring deviceembodying the principles of my invention, the portion of'the top coverthereof being removed to expose certain underlying mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1, withcertain parts removed;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1,showing certain parts thereof in a different operative position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the mechanism shown inFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 inFig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 inFig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line l'iin Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view similar to Fig. 6, but showing theparts therein in a still different operative position;

Fig. 9 is a detail end elevational view of a pick up member embodied inmy device showing the pick up member in the process of moving a workpiece;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary top plan view similar to Fig. 3, but showingcertain parts thereof in different operative position;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the mechanism shownin Fig. 6, but showing the mechanism in a different operative position;

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view taken sub: stantially on the linel2l2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 13 is a detail view taken substantially on the line |3--l3 in Fig.12;

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line l4l4in Fig. 1;

Fig. 15 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line |5-|5in Fig. 6;

Fig. 16 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the lineIii-46 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 1'7 is a timing chart showing the time of operation of variouselements during an articletransferring cycle of operation;

Fig. 18 is a detail side elevational view showing a modified form of apick up member;

Fig. 19 is a detail top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 18; and

Fig. 20 is a detail sectional view similar to Fig. 12 but showing a camembodied in the modified form of my invention.

For the purpose of disclosing the principles of my invention, a materialhandling device or transferring device 20, comprising a preferredembodiment of my invention, is shown in Figs. 1 to 17, inclusive, of thedrawings, operatively associated with a supply conveyor belt 2|, Fig. 1,a punch press 22, Figs. 1 and 3, and a discharge conveyor belt 23, Fig.3.

In general, my novel transfer device 23 comprises a substantiallyL-shaped transfer arm 25 pivotally mounted in substantially horizontalposition on top of a housing 26, the transfer arm being operable toswing, or pivot, upon a shaft 21 back and forth between the positionsshown in Figs. 1 and 3, to thereby transfer blanks B from a work stationI, adjacent the supply conveyor belt 2|, onto a work station II, which,in

this instance, comprises the die D of the punch press 22, wherein apunch press operation is performed on the blanks B to produce a finishedWork piece W, and, thereafter, move the finished work piece W from workstation II to work station III, which latter work station comprises thedischarge conveyor belt 23, this latter transfer, namely, the transferof the work piece W from station II to station III taking place whilethe next blank B is being moved from station I to station II.

It will be understood, of course, that the supply conveyor belt 2|, andthe discharge conveyor belt 23 are shown merely to illustrate suitablemeans for feeding blanks B to my device 20, and for feeding finishedwork pieces W away from the device 20, and that other types of feedingand discharging devices may be substituted therefor without departingfrom the purview of my invention.

Likewise, it will be appreciated that the punch press 22 is shown inconjunction with my novel material handling device 20 merely for thepurpose of illustrating a typical type of machine with which my novelmaterial handling device may be efficiently used and that machines otherthan the punch press 22 such as, for example, arbor presses, shellloading machines, assembly machines, and the like, may be used with mynovel material handling device without departing from the purview of myinvention.

The housing 26, Figs. 1, 3 and 6, comprises a bottom wall an, a frontwall 3|, a rear wall 32, two side walls 33 and 34, and a top wall 35,connected together by bolts 36 which extend through the peripheral edgeportions of the walls 35 and are engaged in tapped openings 3'! in anglebrackets 38 forming a frame 39, whereby each of the walls 3035 arereadily removable from the housing 26 by removing the bolts 36, securingthat wall to the adjacent flange 38. The top wall comprises separatelyremovable front and rear sections 35a and 35b, respectively, Fig. 6.

The shaft 21, on which the L--shaped transfer arm 25 is mounted, isrotatable in a sleeve 4|,

Fig. 7, which, in turn, is slidably mounted in a sleeve 42 journaled ina ball bearing 44, and a thrust bearing 45 in the housing 26. The ballbearing M is held by a bracket A8 against the lower face of the rearsection 351) of the top wall 35 in registration with an opening 49extending therethrough. The thrust bearing 45 is mounted on rails 5| and52, Fig. 6, extending between and mounted on the side walls 33 and 34 ofthe housing 25.

The sleeve 42 is substantially cylindrical in shape having an enlargedcentral body portion 54 and two reduced end portions 55 and 56 tothereby afford shoulders 58 and 59 disposed in abutting relation to theroller bearing 44 and the thrust bearing 45, respectively. The reducedend portion 55 of the sleeve 32 projects through the bearing 44 and theupper end portion thereof is substantially flush with the top surface ofthe rear section 352) of the top wall 35 on the housing 26. A lug 6!,Figs. 2, 6 and 7, is mounted on and projects outwardly from the centralbody portion 54 of the sleeve 42 and is connected to one end of a link62 by means of a bolt 63 which extends through, and is slidably mountedin a slot 64 formed in the lug 61, the link 82 affording a portion ofactuating mcchanism for periodically turning or oscillating the sleeve42 for purposes which will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter.

accuses The sleeve 41 is of substantially smooth cylindrical shape andis non-rotatable, but longitudinally slidably, mounted in the sleeve 42,the sleeve 42 having two longitudinally extending, diametrically opposedslots or openings 68 and 61, 6 and 7 through which extend two bolts 68and 99, respectively. which are mounted in the sleeve i I and extendoutwardly therefrom.

The upper end portion 41a of the sleeve 4! projects upwardly from thetop wall 35 of the housing 26 and the apex 250 of the substantially L-shaped transfer arm 25, which comprises the junction between the legs25a and 25b of the arm 25, is mounted on this upper end portion Ma ofthe sleeve 4|, and nen-rotatably secured with relation thereto bysuitable means such as, a screw II, Fig. 7, extending through the apexor hub portion 25c of the transfer arm 25 into abutting relation withthe upper end portion Ma of the sleeve 41.

The lower end portion Mb of the sleeve 41 projects downwardly from thethrust bearing 45 and terminates in spaced relation to the bottom wall39 of the housing 26. A collar I3 is mounted on the lower end portion Mbof the sleeve 4| and is secured thereto by suitable means such as ascrew I4. An elongated lever I5, having a yoke "I6 at one end thereof,Figs. 6 and 16, is pivotally mounted on a rod 18, Figs. 2 and 6, whichextends between and is mounted on the side walls 33 and 34 of thehousing 26. Two rollers "I9 and 89 are rotatably mounted on the legs (6aand 16b, respectively, of the yoke I6 and project inwardly therefrominto supporting engagement with the peripheral edge portion of thebottom surface of the collar I3 mounted on the lower end portion Mb ofthe sleeve M. Thus, it will be seen that upon rotation of the lever I5on the rod 18, in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, from theposition shown in Fig. 6, to the position shown in Fig. 8, the rollers19 and '99 carried by the yoke IE are efiective to raise the collar I3and thereby cause the sleeve 4| to be shifted upwardly in the sleeve 42and raise the transfer arm 25 relative to the housing 29 for a purposewhich will be discussed in greater detail presently. On the other hand,upon rotation of the lever on the rod I9 in a counter-clockwisedirection from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the position shown inFig. 6, the weight of the transfer arm and the sleeve M and themechanism carried thereby is sufiicient to cause the sleeve M to movedownwardly with the yoke I6, maintaining the sleeve I3 in supportedrelation to the rollers I9 and 89.

As is best seen in Figs. 6 and 8, the upper end portion 21a and thelower end portion 21b of the shaft 2?, project upwardly from anddownwardly from, respectively, the sleeve 4|. The lower end portion 21bof the shaft 27 projects downwardly through a substantially U-shapedbracket 82 mounted on the top face of the bottom wall 39 of the housing26, and terminates in spaced relation to the top face of the bottom wall39. A collar 33 is mounted on the lower end portion 21b of the shaft 2'!below the bracket 82 and is secured to the shaft 2'! by suitable means,such as a pin 84, to thereby restrain the shaft 2? from upward movementrelative to the housing 26.

A collar 89 is mounted on the upper end portion 21a of the shaft 2], andis non-rotatably but slidably secured thereto by a key 81 and a keyway88. The collar 86 is mounted on the top face of the hub 250 of thetransfer arm 25 and is rotatably retained thereon by a ring 9I securedto the hub 250 by suitable means such as screws 92 and having a portionoverlying a flange 93 on the lower end portion of the sleeve 86. A plateor disc 95 is mounted on the upper end portion 21a of the shaft 21 andis secured to the sleeve 89 by suitable means such as screws 95. Thus,it will be seen that the shaft '21 is rotatably mounted in the sleeve 4]for rotation independently of the transfer arm 25, and that the plate95, connected to the shaft 21 by the collar 86, is rotatable with theshaft 21.

Two rack bars 98 and 99 are pivotally connected to the plate 95 by pinand slot connections, Figs. 3 and 6, the elongated slots I9I and I92being formed in the plate 95 and extending substantially radiallytherein, and the pins, comprising bolts I93 and I94, extending throughthe respective slots MI and I92. The rack bars 98 and 98 are rotatablymounted at one end on the lower end portion of the pins I93 and I94,respectively. Two nuts I95 and I96 are mounted on the bolts I93 and I94whereby, by tightening the nuts I95 and I on the bolts I93 and I94. thebolts I93 and 194 may be firmly, but releasably, secured in adjustedposition to thereby afford readily adjusted pivot points for the rackbars 98 and 99.

Two racks I98 and I99 having teeth H2 and H3, respectively, are formedon the other end portions of the rack bars 98 and 99 and are disposed inmeshing engagement with gears I I4 and H5 mounted on pins I IT and H8journaled in the free end portions 251111. and 2517b of the legs 25a and25b of the transfer arm 25.

Two pick up members I 2I and I22 are mounted on the pins Ill and IIS,respectively, Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5, for rotation therewith relative tothe free end portions 25am and 2512b of the transfer arm 25, uponmovement of the rack bars 98 and 99 relative to the legs 25m and 25b ofthe transfer arm 25, as will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter.

The pick up member I22 includes a plate I24 mounted on the upper endportion of the pin 1 I8 in spaced relation to the free end portion 2519bof the leg 25?) of the transfer arm 25, to thereby afford clearance forthe rack I99, Fig. 5. Two elongated grippings members I26 and I 27having substantially arcuate shaped free end portions I28 and I29affording clamping jaws or gripping fingers for grippingly engagingtherebetween articles of work and the like, are pivotally mounted on abolt I35 on the peripheral edge portion of the top surface of the plateI24. The pivotal connection of the gripping members I26 and I2? to theplate i24 is effected through bracket plates I 3| and I32 mounted on theother end portions of the gripping members 529 and I2? opposite to thefree end portons I28 and I29, Fig. 4, and having ears I33 and I34,respectively, pivotally mounted on the bolt I35 which extends throughthe plate I24, the bracket plates I3I and I32 being attached to thegripping members I26 and I2? by suitable means such as, rivets I31 andI98, respectively. Two pins M9 and MI, Figs. 4 and 5, project upwardlyfrom the rear end portions of the bracket plates I3I and I32 and areinterconnected by a tension coil spring M2 which tends to pull the pinsI89 and ItI and, therefore, the rear end portions of the bracket platesI3I and I32 toward each other into such position that the adjacent edgeportions I3Ia and I32a. of the bracket plates I3I and I32 are disposedin closed or abutting relation to each other and the gripping fingersI28 and I29 on the other end portion of the gripping members I26 and I2!are disposed in open or relatively widely spaced relation to each other.

An air cylinder I45 having a plunger I46, is mounted on the upper faceof the plate I24 and carries a wedge shaped head I4! mounted on the freeend portion of the plunger I46 which head I4! is normally disposedadjacent to, but out of engagement with, the rear end portions of thebracket plates I3! and I32. With the head I4'I of the plunger I45 on theair cylinder I45 disposed in this position, it will be seen that thespring I42 is effective to hold the gripping fingers I28 and I29 of thegripping members I26 and I21 in the open position shown in Fig. 3.

An air line I48 is connected at one end to the air cylinder I45 and isconnected at the other end through a T-connection I49 and a controlvalve I56 to a source of supply of compressed air such as a conduit I52,Fig. 12, for controllably feeding and exhausting, compressed air into,and out of, the cylinder I45 to thereby reciprocate the plunger I 46 andmove the wedge shaped head I 4! into, and out of, wedging engagementwith the adjacent edges I3I a and I32a of the bracket plates I3I and I32to thereby cause the finger members I26 and 521 to pivot on the bolt I35between the closed position shown in Fig. 4 and the open position shownin Fig. 3. Such actuation of the valve I55 and, therefore, of the aircylinder I45 is controlled in timed relation to the actuation of otherunits in my novel transfer device 20, as will be discussed in greaterdetail presently.

Thepickup member I2! is substantiallythe same as the pick up member I22,and comprises two elongated gripping members I55 and I56 having arcuateshaped free end portions or gripping fingers I51 and IE8 on oneendthereof,and havingthe other ends thereof pivotally mounted by bracketplates I59 and I 68 and a pin IBI to the peripheral edge portion of aplate I 62 mounted on the upper end portion of the pin II I. An aircylinder I63 having a wedge shaped head I64 on the free end portion ofthe plunger I65 thereof is mounted on the top face of the plate I62 inposition wherein upon actuation of the air cylinder I63 and theresultant reciprocation of the head I64, the fingers I 'Iand I58 of thegripping members I55 and I5'6 are caused to open and close in the samemanner heretofore discussed with relation to the fingers I28 and I29 ofthe pick up member I22, a suitable spring such as the spring I42, beingmounted between the pins I6! and I68 projecting upwardly from the rearend portions of the bracket plates I59 and I60.

The air cylinder I63 is connected by an air line I69 to the other sideof the T connection I49 to thereby connect the air cylinder I63 throughthe control valve I50 to the conduit I52 for controlling the feeding ofair from the conduit I52 to the air cylinder I63 as will be discussed ingreater detail hereinafter.

It will be remembered that the transfer arm 25 is mounted on the upperend portion of the sleeve M and that, as hereinbefore discussed ingeneral, during an operation of my novel transver device 29, thetransfer arm 25 is caused to oscillate Idetween the position shown inFig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 3. The purpose, of course, of thisoscillation of the arm 25 is to move blanks B from the supply conveyorbelt 2| onto the die D of the punch press 22 and to move finished workproducts W from the die D of the punch press 22 onto the dischargeconveyor belt 23. To accomplish this operation, the pick up members I2Iand I22 are actuated during the oscillation of the transfer arm 25 togrip blanks B and work pieces W at station I and station II, anddischarge the thus grasped blank B and work piece W onto the die D andthe discharge conveyor belt 23, at stations II and III, respectively.During such oscillation of the transfer arm 25, it will be seen that theleg 25a thereof, oscillates between station I and station II in such amanner that the free end portion thereof stops short of each station ateach extreme end of the oscillation of the leg 25a and does not passover either station I or station II. Similarly, it will be seen thatduring such oscillation of the transfer arm 25, the free end portion251212 of the leg 25b oscillates between stations II and III in such amanner that it stops short of each station at each extreme end of theoscillation, and does not pass over either station II or station III.

During such oscillation of the transfer arm 25, as will be discussed ingreater detail presently, the rack bars 98 and 99 perform two functions,namely, (1) to pivot the pick up members I2I and I22 on the legs 25a and25b of the transfer arm 25 from the position wherein they project to theright of the legs 25a and 252) as viewed in Fig. 1, when the transferarm 25 is disposed in the position shown in Fig. 1, to the positionwherein they project to the left from legs 25a and 251), as viewed inFig. 3, when the transfer arm 25 is disposed in the position shown inFig. 3; and, (2) to control the movement of the gripping members I2! andI22 in such a manner that during the final stages of the movement of thefree end portions 2511a and 25191) of the legs 25a and 2% towardstations I and II, respectively, into the position shown in Fig. 1, andduring the initial movement of the gripping members I2! and I22 awayfrom stations II and III, respectively, or, in other words, away fromthe position shown in Fig. 3, the gripping fingers I51 and I58, and I28and I29, of the pick up members I2I and I22, respectively, movesubstantially in a straight line. It will be seen that, with the freeend portions of the gripping members I2I and I22 thus moving intoposition over stations I and II, respectively, and, also, thus moving ina relatively straight line out of position over stations II and III,respectively, the movement of the members I2! and I22 is such as tosubstantially eliminate the danger of accidentally striking the articlesdischarged or to be picked up, or other articles adjacent thereto, andenables the transfer device 20 to operate with accuracy both in pickingup and discharging articles handled thereby.

Such control of the pick up members I2I and I 22 is effected bycontrolling the rotation of the pick up members I2I and I2Ia relative tothe free end portions 25aa and 25bb of the legs 25a and 25b,respectively, as will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter. Suchrotation of the gripping members I2I and I22 is effected by rotating thepins II! and H8 and this, in turn, is affected by rotating the gears II4 and I I5 by movement of the rack bars 98 and 99 relative to the legs25a and 25b of the transfer arm 25. Such movement of the rack bars 98and 99 and the legs 25a and 25b relative to each other is efi'ected byrotating the plate relative to the hub 250 of the transfer arm 25 andthis is accomplished by rotating the shaft 27 within the sleeve 4|.

For the purpose of rotating the shaft 27, I provide a plate I'II mountedon the lower end portion 21b of the shaft 21 and secured thereto bysuitable means such as a screw or pin I12, Figs. 6, 11 and 15. One endof a link I14 is connected by a pin and slot connection to the plateI1I, the slot I15 being formed in the plate HI and a pin comprising abolt I16 extending through the slot I15 and one end of the link I14, andhaving a nut I11" thereon for retaining the bolt I16 in the slot I15,the bolt I16 being freely slidably longitudinally of the slot I15. Theother end portion of the link I1Il is pivotally connected by a bolt I18to one end of the cross bar of a substantially T-shaped lever I19, theother end portion of the cross bar of the lever I19 being pivotallymounted on the rod 18. It will be seen that rotation of the lever I19 ina clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6 will be effective to turn-theplate IN and therefore, the shaft 21 and the plate 95,. in a clockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 3, to thereby move the rack bars 98 and 99outwardly toward the free end portions 2511a and 25bb of. the legs 25aand 25b of the transfer arm 25, respectively. On the other hand, it willbe seen that rotation of the lever I19 in a counterclockwise direction,as viewed in Fig. 6-, will be effective to rotate the plate Ill andtherefore, the shaft 21 and the plate 95 in a counter-clockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 3 to thereby pull the rack bars 98 and 99inwardly away from the free end portions 25cm and 25bbof the legs 25aand 25b of the transfer arm 25, respectively.

Thus, from the foregoing, it will be seen that by properly rotating thelever I19 on the rod 18, the plate I1 I, the shaft 21 and the plate 95,may be caused to oscillate to thereby oscillate the pins I03 and I011between the positions shown in solid and broken lines in Fig. 10, andmove the rack bars 98 and 99 inwardly and outwardly relative to the legs25a. and 25b of the transfer arm 25 to pivot the pick up members I2I andI22 relative to the legs 25a and 251).

For the purpose of cheating and controlling the operation of the variousparts of my novel transfer device 20, I embody a cam shaft I8I,journaled in suitable bearings I82 and I83 mounted on the inner face ofthe side walls 33 and 34 of the housing 26. Six cams CI, C2, C3, C4, C5and C6, are mounted on the cam shaft I8I and secured. thereto forrotation therewith by suitable means such as pins I84, Fig. 1. A wormwheel I86 is mounted on the cam shaft I8I outwardly of the cam C6 andsecured to the cam shaft I8I by suitable means, such as a pin I81. Theworm wheel I86 is operatively engaged with and driven by aworm I88operatively connected to a suitable power source, such as a motor 189mounted on a base I9I in the housing 26 adjacent to the cam shaft I8'I.The motor I89, acting through the worm I 88' and the worm wheel I86 isoperable to rotate the cam shaft NH, and therefore, the cams C1-C6, in aclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6.

A complete cycle of operation of my novel transfer device isaccomplished during each complete revolution of the cam shaft ISI, and,during such a rotation of the cam shaft I8I, the cams CI-C6 are operableto cause the various elements of my novel transfer device to passthrougha complete cycle of operation, as will be discussed in greater detailpresently.

It will be remembered that reciprocation of the link 62' to the left andright, as viewed in Fig. 6', is effective, through the pin 66 and thelug ti on the sleeve 42, to oscillate the sleeve 42, and, therefore, thesleeve 4|, and thereby oscillate the transfer arm in a horizontaldirection around the shaft 21.- To effect such reciprocation of the link62 one arm I93a ofa bell crank lever I93, pivotally mounted on the rod18, is pivotally connected by a pin I94 to the other end of the link 52opposite that end to'which the lug ti is attached. A cam roller or camfollower I55 is rotatably mounted by a pin 2M on the free end ortheother leg 19319 of the bell crank lever I93 and is operatively engagedwith the peripheral edge of the cam C3.

As is best seen in Figs. 6 and 8, the cam C3 is substantially ofcircular shape or outline, being mounted eccentrically on the cam shaftMI and the base N6 of the cam (33 being flattened some-- what from thetrue circular shape. The dam C3 is shown in Fig. 6 in substantially theposition which it assumes at the close of a cycle of operation and justprior to the commencing of a new cycle of operation, this positioncorresponding to the position of the mechanism as shown in Fig. 1,wherein, it will be seen, the pick up members I21 and I22 are disposedaround a blank B and a work piece W, respectively, but have not as yetbeen closed into gripping engagement therewith. During the nextrelatively small portion of the rotation of the cam shaft I8 I, as willbe discussed in greater detail hereinafter, the pick up fingers I51 andI58, and the pick up fingers I28 and 129, will be closed into grippingengagement with the blank B and the work piece W. In addition, thetransfer arm will be raised upwardly from the housing 26 to thereby liftthe blank B and the work piece W clamped in the gripping members HI andI22, and the transfer arm 25' will commence its rotation in acounter-clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 1 toward theposition shown in Fig. 3. Thus, it will be seen that upon continuedrotation of the cam C3- from the position shown in Fig. 6, the camfollower I95 will next engage the central portion of the lobe I91 of thecam C3 and, during the next of rotation of the cam C3 the roller I95will ride upwardly on the periphery of the cam 03 toward the cam shaftI'8'I, a coil spring I98, connected between the pin 26% on which theroller I95 is mounted and a rod 202 mounted inand extend-' ing betweenthe side walls 63 and 34, Figs. I and 2, being effective to thus pivotthe bell crank I93 in a counter-clockwise direction on the shaft 18, andthereby retain the contact between the roller I95 and the peripheraledge portion of the cam C3. During this first 180 of rotation of the camC5 in a cycle of operation, it will be seen that the upward movement ofthe cam roller I55 causes the bell crank I93 to move thelink' 62 to theleft, as viewed in Fig. 6 and thereby pivot the sleeve 62, the sleeveif, and'th'e transfer arm 25 in a counter-clockwise rotation I om theposition shown in Fig. l. The link 62 and the bell crank I93, and thecam C3; are-so constituted and arranged that during this 180 of rotationof the cam C3 from the position shown in Fig. 6, to the position shownin Fig. 8 wherein the roller I95 is disposed just adjacent tothe"central portion of the base I96 of the" cam C3, the'transfer arm 25 isrotated with the sleeves III and lz' a'round the shaft 21'" from theposition shown in Fig. 1', to the position shown in Fig. 8, to therebyswing the free end portion of the leg 250: from a position adjacentto'sta'tion I toa position adjacent to station II, and to swing thefree" end portion of the leg 256' from a portion adjacent to station IIto a position adjacent to station III.

The cam shaft IBI' is preferably continuously driven by the motor I39,and therefore, it will be seen that after the cam C3 has rotated throughthe aforementioned first 180 of travel to the position wherein theroller I95 is disposed adjacent to the central portion of the base I96of the cam C3, the second 180 of rotation of the cam shaft I 8I whichconcludes the full rotation of the cam C3 is efiective to so move thecam C3 that the roller I95 is again positioned adjacent to the centralportion of the lobe I9I of the cam C3, as shown in Fig. 6. During thissecond 180 of rotation of the cam C3, it will be seen that the rollerI95 is pressed downwardly by the peripheral edge portion of the cam C3to thereby pivot the bell crank I93 in a clockwise direction on theshaft I8 and move the link 62 to the right as viewed in Fig. 6. Suchmovement of the link 62, is effective through the lug BI and the pin 63to rotate the sleeve 42 and the sleeve M, and therefore, the transferarm in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3 to thereby pivot thetransfer arm 25 horizontally around the shaft 21 from the position shownin Fig. 3, to the position shown in Fig. 1, to again reposition the freeend portions of the legs 25a and 25b adjacent to station I and stationII, respectively. This, it will be seen, comprises a complete cycle ofoperation of the swinging movement of the transfer arm 25.

As is best seen in Fig. 12, when the cam C3 is disposed in the positionshown in Fig. 1, wherein the roller I95 is disposed in engagement withthat portion of the cam C3 corresponding to the close of a cycle ofoperation of my novel transfer device 20, the cam 04, which, as will bediscussed in greater detail presently, controls the opening and closingof the gripping members I2I and I22 by controlling the opening andclosing of the valve I50, Figs. 12 and 13, is so disposed that theleading edge 204 of the lobe 205 of the cam C4 is disposed adjacent to acam roller 206 mounted on the free end portion of a lever 20'! pivotallymounted at the other end thereof by a pin 208 to the body portion 209 ofthe valve I50. The central portion of the lever 20'! between the pin 208and the roller 206 is disposed in operative engagement with the controlbutton or lunger ZII of the valve I50, the button 2| I being so disposedin the valve I 50 that upon depression of the button 2II into the bodymember 209 of the valve I50, the valve I50 is opened to thereby permitair to flow from the conduit I52, connected by suitable coupling members2I2 to the inlet 2I3 of the valve I50, through the body portion 209 andoutwardly through the outlet 2 I4 of the valve I50 and coupling members2I5 into the T connection I49 from whence the compressed air may flowthrough the hoses I48 and I69 into the air cylinders I and I65 tothereby actuate the wedges I4! and I64 and close the gripping membersI2I and I22, as previously discussed. The button 2| I is preferably ofthe spring urged type wherein upon outward movement of the button 2| Ifrom the aforementioned depressed position in the body member 209 of thevalve I50, the passageway between the inlet 2I3 and the outlet 2I4 ofthe valve I is closed and an exhaust opening, not shown, is opened topermit air to flow back from the air cylinders I45 and I63 through thehoses I48 and I69 and the body portion 209 of the valve I50 to theatmosphere, to thereby permit the plunger I46 and I65 of the aircylinders I45 and I63 to be retracted by suitable means such as,springs, not shown. The valve I50 and the air cylinders I45 and I63 maybe any one of several 12 suitable types readily available on the marketand, except as they constitute a part of my novel combination, do notconstitute a part of my invention, no claim being made to any inventionin the valve I50 and the air cylinders I45 and I63, per se.

The lobe 205 of the cam C4 is of such size and shape, and the cam C4 is50 disposed on the shaft I8I that at the initiation of a cycle ofoperation the roller 206 is disposed on the dwell 2I8 of the cam C4,and, during the first of rotation of the cam shaft I8I, constituting thefirst half of a cycle of operation of my novel transfer device 20, theroller 206 rides up onto the lobe 205 of the cam C4 and again rides downoff from the lobe 205 of the cam C4 onto the dwell 2I0. The leading edge204 and the trailing edge 2I9 of the lobe 205 are, as is best seen inFig. 12, somewhat abrupt so that the roller 206 rides onto theperipheral edge portion of the lobe 265 relatively quickly at the startof a cycle of operation, and rides off from the peripheral edge portionof the lobe 205 onto the dwell 2I9 relatively quickly at the end of thefirst 180 of rotation of the cam C4, the leading edge 204 and thetrailing edge 2I9 being preferably so shaped that this movement of theroller 206 onto and ofi from the lobe 205 takes place withinsubstantially 2 or 3 of rotation at the first and last part,respectively, of the first 180 of rotation of the cam C4.

When the roller 206 is disposed on the lobe 295 of the cam C4 the button2II of the valve I50 is depressed by the lever 20! to thereby open thevalve I50 and feed compressed air from the conduit I52 into the aircylinders I45 and I63 to thereby close the pick up members i2I and I22,as previously discussed. When the roller 206 is disposed on the dwell2I8 of the cam C4, the button 2I I of the valve I50 is in outwardlydisposed position to thereby close the passageway between the conduitI52 and the outlet 2I4 of the valve I50, and the air cylinders I45 andI63 are opened to the atmosphere to thereby permit the air to beexhausted therefrom and permit the wedges I4! and I64 to be withdrawnfrom engagement with the bracket plates I3I and I32, and I59 and I60,respectively, and thereby permit the pick up members I2I and I22 to beopened by the springs I42. Thus, it will be seen that aftersubstantially 2 or 3 of travel of the cam shaft I8I, at the initiationof a cycle of operation, the pick up members I2I and I22, are closed andare held in such closed position until the cam shaft I8I has completedsubstantially 177 or 178 of a complete rotation, at which time the pickup members I 2I and I22 are opened, and remain open during the remainderof a cycle of operation.

As is best seen in Fig. 6, when the cam C3 is disposed in the initialposition shown in Fig. 6, a cam roller 22I, rotatably mounted on a pin222 on the end portion of the lever I5 opposite to the end on which theyoke 16 is mounted, is disposed in engagement with the peripheral edgeportion of the dwell 224 on the cam C2, adjacent to the leading edge 225of the lobe 226 of the cam C2. The leading edge 225 of the cam 02 is soformed that during the initial movement of the cam C2 in a cycle ofoperation, and preferably within substantially the first 5 of rotation,the roller 22I rides up the leading edge 225 of the cam C2 onto theperipheral edge portion of the lobe 226, thereof. A sloping trailingedge 22'! is disposed at the other end portion of the lobe 226, and thelobe 226 and the trailing edge 22'! are so constituted and arrangedthat, during the last of the first 180 of rotation of the cam C2 in acycle of operation, the roller 22I rides inwardly from the lobe 226along the trailing edge 221 onto the dwell 224. Thus, it will be seenthat the lobe 226 of the cam C2 is effective to press the roller 2| Idownwardly and to hold the roller III in such downwardly disposedposition substantially throughout the first 180 of rotation, and thenpermit the roller 2 I I to move upwardly again into engagement with thedwell 224, with which it remains in engagement during the remainder ofthe cycle of operation.

It will be remembered that the lever 15 on which the roller 22I ismounted is pivotally mounted on the shaft I8 and is operativelyconnected by the roller I9 and 80 to the collar 13 on the lower endportion III) of the sleeve 4 I, so that, upon rotation of the lever 15in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, and as effected bydownward movement of the roller 22! from the position shown in Fig. 6,the sleeve II and therefore, the transfer arm 25 and associatedmechanism carried thereby is moved upwardly from the position shown inFig. 6 toward the position shown in Fig. 8. Also, it will be seen thatupon movement of the roller 2 upwardly from the lobe 226 back onto thedwell 224, the weight of the sleeve II, the transfer arm 25 andassociated mechanism, cause the lever 15 to pivot in a counter-clockwisedirection on the shaft It to thereby lower the transfer arm 25 from theposition shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 6.

From the foregoing consideration of the operation of cams 03, Cd, andC2, it will be seen that during the first 180 of rotation of the camshaft I8I in a cycle of operation, the bell crank lever I93 is permittedto turn in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, tothereby turn the transfer arm 25 in a counter-clockwise direction fromthe position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 3, the shapeof the cam C3 being such that during approximately the first 160 ofrotation, the bell crank lever I93 and therefore, the transfer arm 25,is rotated at a substantially steady, relatively rapid rate and thatduring the last 20 of the first 180 of rotation, during which time theroller 20! is in engagement with the base I96 of the cam C3, the rate ofrotation of the bell crank I53 and therefore, the transfer arm 25, isreduced. Thereafter, during the second 180 of rotation of the cam C3,the bell crank lever I93 is caused to turn in a clockwise direction asviewed in Fig. 6 to thereby turn the transfer arm 25 in a clockwisedirection from the position shown in F g. 3 to the position shown inFig, 1, the first 20 of this second 180 of rotation, during which theroller I95 is engaged with the base I96 of the cam C3, the transfer armbeing rotated at a relatively slow rate, and, during the last 160 of thesecond 180 of rotation of the cam C3, during which time the roller I95is engaged with the lobe I91 of the cam C3, the bell crank lever I93 andthe transfer arm 25 being moved at a substantially steady, relativelyrapid rate.

Also, it will be seen that during the first 2 or 3 of rotation of thecam shaft IBI after the initiation of a cycle of operation, the valveI50 is actuated by the lobe 205 on the cam C4 to close the grippingmembers I2I and I22 on a blank B and a work piece W, respectively,mounted at stations I and II, respectively, whereby, upon rotat on ofthe transfer arm 25 in a counter-clockwise direction by the cam C3, aspreviously discussed, the blank B is moved toward station II and thework piece W engaged by the pick up members I22 is moved toward stationIII. Also it will be seen that at the completion of the first 180 ofrotation of the cam C3, and, therefore, of the transfer arm 25, the camC4 is effective to actuate the valve I5fl to open the gripping membersI2I and I22 to thereby release the blank B and the work piece W heldthereby, respectively. Thereafter, during the return movement of thetransfer arm from the position shown in Fig. 3, to the position shown inFig. 1, the roller 206 is disposed on the dwell 2I8 of the cam C4, andtherefore, the gripping members I2I and I22 remain in open position.

Furthermore, it will be seen that during the first 5 of a rotation ofthe cam shaft I8I, which is substantially twice the rotation required toactuate the valve I50, the cam C2 causes the transfer arm 25 to beraised to thereby lift the articles B and W grippingly engaged by thepick up members HI and I22 from stations I and II, respectively.Thereafter, during the next of rotation of the cam shaft I8I, the cam C2holds the transfer arm 25 in this raised position and then, during thelast 5 of the first of rotation of the cam shaft IIlI, at which time thearms 25a and 25b are nearing the positions adjacent stations II and III,respectively, as shown in Fig. 3, the cam 02 permits the transfer arm 25to be lowered to thereby lower the thus transported blank B and workpiece W toward stations II and III, respectively.

As previously mentioned, during operative movement of the transfer arm25 on the shaft 27 in a cycle of operation of my novel transfer device20, the leg 25a and the leg 25b oscillate between stations I and II, andstations II and III, respectively, without passing over any of thestations I-III. To effect transfer of the blank B from work station I towork station II, and to effect transfer of a finished work piece W fromwork station II to work station III, during such movement of the arm 25,the pick up members I2I and I22, respectively, are moved from theposition shown in Fig. 1, wherein they project to the right from thelegs 25a and 252), respectively, to the position shown in Fig. 3,wherein they project to the left from the legs 25a and 25b. To effectthis movement of the gripping members I2! and I22, the rack bars 98 and.99 are afforded. The rack bars 08 and 99 swing with the legs 25a and2512, but it will be seen that, in so doing, the rack bars swing aboutdifferent pivot points than the pivot point around which the transferarm 25 swings, so that the rack bars 98 and 99, are, in effect, movedlongitudinally inwardly and outwardly relative to the free end portions25cm and 2517b of the legs 25a and 25b and are thereby effective,through the resultant movement of the racks I08 and I09 relative to thepinion gears IM and H5, to thereby swing the pick up members I2I and I22around the free ends of the legs 25a and 2512, respectively.

In addition, the cam CI is afforded for actuating the lever I19 toeffect additional movement of the rack bars 98 and 99 and therebycontrol the movement of the pick up members HI and I22 relative to thelegs 25a and 25b for purposes which will be discussed in greater detailpresently.

A roller 235 is rotatably mounted on a pin 236 on the free end portionof the third leg of the T-shaped lever I19 and is held in engagementwith the peripheral edge portion of the cam CI by a tension coil spring231 connected between the pin 236 and the rod 202, Figs. 1 and 2.

As is best seen in Fig. 6, at the initiation of a cycle of operation ofmy novel transfer device 20, the roller 235 is disposed in engagementwith the leading end portion of the dwell 23I of the cam CI. Duringsubstantially the entire first 180" of rotation of the cam CI, theroller 235 rides on the dwell 23I and, therefore, the lever I19 and theshaft 2'! remain stationary during this first 180 of operation of thecam shaft IBI, whereby the pins I03 and I06, which are mounted on theplate 95, are held stationary. Thus it will be seen that, upon movementof the rack bars 98 and 99 with the transfer arm 25 during the first 180of rotation of the cam shaft i8I, the rack bars 98 and 99 are rotatedaround stationary pivot points. The pins I03 and I06, it will beremembered, are disposed on the plate 85 radially outside of the shaft21 and during the time that they are held in the stationary position,are mounted in a position substantially as shown in Fig. 1, wherein theradii around which the rack bars 98 and 99 are rotated during movementof the transfer arm 25 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the positionshown in Fig. 3 become progressively shorter while those of legs 25a and25b remain constant. With the rack bars 98 and 99 and the legs 25a and25b constituted and arranged in this manner, it will be seen that duringthe counter-clockwise rotation of the legs 25a and 522 from the positionshown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 3, the racks I08 and I09on the rack bars 98 and 99, will be moved outwardly relative to the freeend portions 25m and 2522b of the legs 25a and 251), respectively, tothereby rotate the pinion gears H4 and H5 in a counter-clockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 1, and swing the pick up members I2I and I22in a similar counter-clockwise direction around the free end portions25cm and 2512?) of the legs 25a and 2519 from the position shown in Fig.1 to the position shown in Fig. 3. Thus, it will be seen that duringthis movement of the transfer arm 25 in a counter-clockwise direction asviewed in Fig. l, the pick up members IZI and I22 are rotated on thefree end portions of the legs 25a and 25b from a position wherein theyare disposed in outwardly projecting relation to the trailing edgeportion of the legs 25a and 25b to a position wherein they are disposedin an outwardly projecting relation to the leading edge portion of thelegs 25a and 25b.

Adjustment of the extent of movement of the rack bars 98 and 99 relativeto the free end portions 25am and 25122) of the legs 25a and 252) may beeffected by adjusting the positions of the pivot pins I93 and I04 in theslots NH and I82, respectively, adjustment of the pins I03 and I94outwardly away from the shaft 2'! tending to increase the extent ofmovement of the rack bars 98 and 99, and adjustment of the pins I03 andI04 inwardly toward the shaft 2'! reducing such movement. By soadjusting the movement of the rack bars 98 and 99, the extent of travelof the pick up members around the pins III and II8 may likewise beadjusted.

When the pins I03 and I04 are disposed in proper positions in the slotsNH and I02, the pick up members I25 and I22 at the start of a cycle ofoperation are so disposed on the legs 25a and 25b that they are disposedover the work stations I and II, respectively, with the respectivefingers I5! and I58, and I28 and I29 thereof disposed on opposite sidesof a blank B and a work piece W, respectively, disposed at the workstations I and II. Likewise, when the legs 25a and 25?) are disposed inthe position shown in Fig. 3 at the close of the first of rotation ofthe cam shaft IBI, the pick up members I2I and I22 are disposed inoperative position over the work stations 11 and III, respectively, insuch position that respective fingers thereof are mounted on oppositesides of a blank B and a work piece W which may be disposed at therespective stations.

In a normal operation of my device and, specifically, during the first180 of rotation of the cam shaft I8I, the transfer arm 25 and associatedmechanism, as has previously been discussed, and as will be discussed ingreater detail hereinafter, is effective to pick up a finished workpiece W from work station II and transfer the same to the work stationIII, and, at the same time, pick up a blank B from the work station Iand transfer the same to the work station II. Thereafter, during thenext 180 of rotation of the cam shaft IIlI, the transfer arm 25 swingsback from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. land disposes the pick up members I2I and I22 in position to pick upanother blank B and work piece W from the work stations I and II,respectively.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, during such rotationof the transfer arm 25, the free end portions 25cc and 25% of the legs25a and 25b, travel through an arc and if the pick up members I2I andI22 were held in sta-- tionary position relative to the free endportions 2511a and 252127, the pick up members I2I and I22 wouldnecessarily travel in the same are and the free end portions thereofwould travel through an accentuated arc, and would, therefore, tend tobe swept laterally across the work stations II and III, respectively, inwithdrawing from the position shown in Fig. 3, and would tend to beswept laterally across the work stations I and II, when approaching theposition shown in Fig. l. Inasmuch as the fingers of the pick up membersIZI and I 22 are disposed, or are to be disposed, around, and adjacentto work pieces and blanks at the start of these movements of thetransfer arm 29 back and forth between the respective work stations, Ihave so constituted and arranged the parts of my novel transfer device20 in such a manner that, when the pick up members IZI and I22 arewithdrawing from positions over work stations II and III, respectively,they move in a substantially straight-line direction and whenapproaching the work stations I and II, re spectively, they also move ina substantially straight-line direction, and thus, in both instances, donot swing in a sweeping motion laterally across the stations on whichblanks B or work pieces W are positioned and thereby insure that theblanks B or work pieces W, or blanks or work pieces adjacent thereto,will not be accidentally struck by the pick up members I2I and I22.

Such straight-line movement of the pick up members I2I and I22 isreadily accomplished in my novel device 29, by the mechanism includingthe rack bars 98 and 99. Thus, it will be seen that at the initiation ofthe return movement of the transfer arm 25, from the position shown inFig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 1, which return movement takesplace during the second 180 of rotation of the cam shaft I8I, the cam CIis rotated into position wherein the roller 235 rides onto the leadingedge portion of the lobe 232, and, during substantially the next 45 ofrotation, the lobe 232 on the cam CI is effective 17 to press the roller235 downwardly to thereby rotate the lever H9 in a clockwise directionaround the rod 18 and thereby rotate the plate III, the shaft 2? and theplate 95 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 3 and 10.

The lobe 232 on the cam CI is of such configuration that during thisfirst 45 of the return movement of the cam shaft ISI, the shaft 21 isrotated at a faster rate than the sleeve ll and thus, it will be seenthat the pins I03 and EM are rotated relative to the transfer arm 25from a position shown in Fig. 3, wherein they are offset from thelongitudinal center lines of the legs 25a and 25%;, respectively, at thestart of the return movement of the transfer arm 25 to a position shownin solid lines in Fig. 10, wherein the pins I53 and IN are disposedsubstantially on the center lines of the legs 25c and 2512. By suchmovement of the pins its and its, the racks H38 and H39 are movedoutwardly further with respect to the free end portions 25cm and 2519bof the legs 25a and 25?) from the position shown in Fig. 3. This lattermovement of the racks I03 and tilt is effective to further rotate thepinion gears IM and H5 in a counter-clockwise direction and thus rotatethe pick up members IZI and I22 in a counter-clockwise direction tocounteract and offset the tendency of the legs 25a and 25b to swing thefree end portions of the pick up members I2I and I22 clockwise in alateral movement across the work stations II and III. In this manner,the gripping members IZI and I22 are withdrawn, during the first 45 ofthe last 180 of rotation of the cam shaft ISI, in a substantiallystraight-line movement from their respective positions over the workstations 11 and III.

After this initial 45 of rotation of the cam shaft IiSI, the roller 2355rides inwardly on the trailing edge of the lobe 232 of the cam CI, andthe lever H9 is thus pivoted by the spring 23? in a counter-clockwisedirection on the rod It to thereby pivot the plate III, the shaft 2? andthe plate 95, in a counter-clockwise direction from the position shownin solid lines in Fig. 10. The trailing edge of the lobe 232 of the cam253i is, as is best seen in Fig. 6, curved outwardly only slightly froma flat straight line shape and includes an outer end portion 23 Iaextending from the tip of the lobe 232 to point 242 on the trai1- ingedge portion of the lobe 232 which is disposed a distance from thecenter of the cam shaft ISI substantially equal to the length of theradius of the dwell 235.

The trailing edge of the lobe 232 also includes an inner end portion25th substantially comprising a chord to an arc of the circle of thedwell ZBI and connecting the point 242 on the trailing edge portion ofthe lobe 232 with the leading end portion of the dwell 23L The outer endportion Z lIa of the trailing edge of the lobe is of such length thatupon continued rotation of substantially 35 from the end of theaforementioned first 45 of the second 180 of rotation of the cam shaftEdi, the cam CI has been moved so that the roller 235 has moved upwardlyfrom engagement with the tip of the lobe 232 into engagement with thepoint M2 on the trailing edge portion of the lobe 232. At this point inthe return movement of the transfer arm it will be seen that the roller235 has moved back to a position the same distance away from the camshaft ISI as it was when it occupied the initial position, shown in Fig.6, at the start of the cycle of operation shown in Fig. 6, and,

18 thus, the pins I03 and I04 have been moved back to the same positionrelative to the housing 26 as is shown in Fig. 1.

This movement of the pins I03 and IIM from the positions shown in solidlines in Fig. 10, to the position shown in Fig. 1, together with therotation of the transfer arm 25 in a clockwise direction around theshaft 21, is effective to move the rack bars 98 and 99 inwardly from thefree end portions 25cm and 2517b of the legs 25a and 252), from theposition shown in solid lines in Fig. 10 to the position shown in dottedlines in Fig. 10, to thereby rotate the pinion gears H4 and H5 in aclockwise direction on the legs 25:; and 25b and, therefore, initiaterotation of the pick up members IZI and I22 in a clockwise directionfrom the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 10 toward the positionshown in Fig, 3.

If the pick up members I2I and I22 were held in fixed position relativeto the free end portions 25cm and 2519b of the legs 25a and 25b duringthe remaining return movement of the transfer arm 25 toward stations Iand II, obviously, the free end portions of the pick up members I2! andI22 would be rotated in a clockwise direction and swept laterally acrossthe work stations I and II. However, my novel device ZII is soconstructed that the pick up members I2I and I22 do not approach workstations I and II with a lateral, sweeping motion, but make the finalapproach to the Work stations I and II in a relatively straight linemovement and to accom plish this, I efiect such movement of the rackbars 98 and 99, that during the final approach movement of the pick upmembers HI and I22, during which the movement of the legs 25a and 25bnormally tends to sweep the free end portions of the gripping members INand I22 in a clockwise direction across the work stations I and II,respectively, the rack bars 98 and 98 are moved relative to the legs 25aand 25b in such a direction that the pinion gears I I I and H5 arerotated in a counter-clockwise direction at the proper rate to turn thepick up members I2I and I22 sufficiently in a counter-clockwisedirection to offset the movement of the free end portions of the legs25a and 25b, and thereby move the free end portions of the pick upmembers I2! and I22 in substantially a straight line direction intooperative position over the work stations I and II, respectively.

In this connection, it will be seen that at substantially the point in acycle of operation whereat the cam shaft IiII has completed 315 of acomplete revolution, which is the point at which the roller 235 isdisposed at the mid-point between the point 242 and the point at whichthe inner end portion 24H) of the trailing edge of the lobe 232 of thecam CI is connected to the dwell 23I, the roller 235 is disposed at thatpoint on the inner end portion f ll?) of the trailing edge of the lobe232 which approaches closest to the center of the cam shaft I8! and,thus it will be seen that during substantially the first 45 of the lastof rotation of the cam shaft I8I, the roller 235 has been moved upwardlyby the spring 231 to thereby rotate the lever HS in a counter-clockwisedirection on the shaft I3 and thus rotate the plate Ill, the shaft Illand the plate 9.5 in a further counter-clockwise direction, from theposition shown in Fig. l, to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig.10. This movement of the plate 95, it will be seen also moves the pinsI03 and I34 in such a manner that the rack bars 98 and '95! are pulledinwardly relae 19 tive to the free end portions of the legs 25a and 25band thereby, the pick up members I2I and I22 are swung reiative to thelegs 25a and 25b into the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 10.

Thereafter, it will be seen that the movement of the cam CI with the camshaft I8I, during substantially the last 45 of a cycle of operation, issuch that the roller 235 is pressed outwardly from this position atwhich it is disposed at the 315 point of a cycle of operation to theposition shown in Fig. 6, wherein it is again engaged with the leadingend of the dwell 23L This last movement of the roller 23", it will beseen, through the resultant movement of the lever I'IEI, the plate III,the shaft 27 and the plate 95, is effective to move the pins I03 and IE4from the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 10, to the normalposition shown in Fig. 1, and is thereby effective to move the rack bars98 and 99 outwardly relative to the free end portions of the legs 25aand 251). This movement of the pins I 03 and I 64 around the shaft 2'!is at such a rate that the rack bars 92 and 99 are moved outwardly at arate wherein the outward movement of the racks I68 and I09 is sufficientto so rotate the pinion gears H 2 and H and, therefore, the pick upmembers I2I and I22 sufficiently in a counter-clockwise direction thatthe free end portions of the pick up members I2I and I22 are carriedfrom the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 10 to the position shownin Fig. 1, in a substantially straight line movement whereby the freeend portions of the pick up members I2I and I22 are readily moved intoenclosing relation to the blank B and work piece W mounted at workstations I and II, respectively, without striking the blank B and thework piece W, or adjacent devices or mechanism.

With the free end portions of the pick up members I2I and I22 moving insubstantially a straight line into and out of operative positions overstations I and II, and II and III, respectively, the movement of thegripping fingers I57, I58, I 28 and I29 is such that blanks B and workpieces W may be readily picked up from, and deposited on, the respectivework stations with accuracy. Also, it will be seen that with my novelconstruction, I have eliminated the danger of the pick up members I 2Iand I22 accidentally striking the blank B or work piece W which hasbeen, or is to be, transferred, or other properly located blanks B orwork pieces W.

As previously mentioned, the supply conveyor belt 2I and dischargeconveyor belt 23 are merely disclosed herein by way of illustration andnot by way of limitation, and other types of supply devices or dischargereceptacles or devices, may be used without departing from the purviewof my invention. However, when using a supply conveyor belt 2i, as shownin Fig. l, I prefer to dispose a bar 245 across the head end portion ofthe belt 2| to thereby stop blanks B which are moved by the conveyorbelt 2I into predetermined relation thereon. Adjacent to the conveyorbelt 2i and in spaced parallel relation to the bar 245, a pneumatic ram245 is mounted on a suitable table T which preferably comprises aportion of the supporting structure of the conveyor belt 2!, and the ram246, includes a plunger 24? operated by air fed into the cylinder 248 ofthe ram 226 by means of a suitable hose or conduit 2 39, Fig. 1, from avalve 25! substantially identical to the valve I52 and connected to thesupply conduit I52 adjacent to the valve I513. The ram 245 may be anyoneof several well-known types of air cylinders available on the market,and is so constructed that when air is fed into the cylinder 248, theplunger 2 is pushed outwardly thereby and when the air is exhausted fromthe conduit 2% to the atmosphere, the plunger 22'! is retracted into thecylinder 248 by spring or other means, not shown.

The head end portion of the cylinder 228 from which the plunger 24? isprojected and retracted is disposed adjacent to a longitudinal edge ofthe belt 2I in parallel spaced relation to the bar 2st in such positionthat when the plunger 22? is moved outwardly relative to the cylinder2%, the front end portion of the plunger 223', pushes the first blank Bdisposed against the bar laterally across the belt 2I onto a platform onthe table '1 into the work station 1. Suitable guide bars 254 aremounted on the belt 21 to hold the blanks B disposed behind thisaforementioned first blank B against lateral movement across theconveyor belt 2i. When the plunger 24? is retracted into the cylinder258, the next blank B moves forwardly with the conveyor belt 2i intoengagement with the bar 245 into position wherein upon the next outwardmovement of the plunger 24?, during the next cycle of operation of thetransfer device 20, this next blank B is then pushed. transverselyacross the conveyor belt 22 into work station I.

Control of the operation of the ram 242 is eifected by the cam C5, Figs.1 and 12, the cam C5 being disposed on the cam shaft IBI adjacent to thecam C 3, and having a lobe 256 and a dwell 25?, Fig. 12. The lobe 256 isso disposed on the periphery on the cam C5 that during substantially thefirst 215 of rotation of the cam shaft ISI during a cycle of operation,the roller 258 on the valve 25I, and which roller is similar to theroller 206 on the valve IE9, is disposed in engagement with the dwell257 whereby the plunger 259 on the valve 25I is disposed in ortwardlyprojecting or, in other words, in valve closing position, to therebyclose the valve against the passage of air from the conduit I52, intothe ram 246 and to open the valve 25I to vent the line 249 toatmosphere. At the end of substantially the first 215 of rotation of thecam shaft IBI in a cycle of operation, the leading edge portion 262 ofthe lobe 256 on the cam C5 is moved into engagement with the roller 25%and within preferably the next 5 of rotation of cam C5, the roller 258is pressed downwardly by the lobe 256 and is held in such downwardlydisposed, or, in other words, valve opening position until substantially5 before the completion of a full rotation of the cam shaft I8I, atwhich time the roller 258 moves inwardly along the trailing edge 263 ofthe cam 256 into the normal position on the dwell 257. During this timethat the roller 258 is held in downwardly disposed position by the lobe256, the valve 25I is, of course, in open position and is effective tofeed compressed air from the conduit 52 through the valve 258 and theline 249 to the ram 245 and thus actuate the plunger 24? and push ablank B into work station I. Upon movement of the roller 258 downwardlyalong the trailing edge 253 of the lobe 256, the plunger 259, Fig. 13,is again moved upwardly to thereby close the valve 255. Thus, it will beseen that during a cycle of operation of my novel device 20, after ablank B has been picked up from the panel 252 of the table T, fortransfer to the die D of the punch press 22, the ram 248 is actuated tothereby position a new blank B at station I for transfer to the die D,

